Equine Health

How Nutrition helps in preventing Colic/Laminitis/ IR

Digestive aids

Studies provided by:Dr. Bill Vandergrift, EquiVision, Inc.

Shannon Keller

Lets Start at the beginning

The Equine Digestive SystemSmall Stomach –continual grazersLong Small Intestine with fast passage –protein, starch, sugar, fatlarge intestine is a fermentation vat– Bacteria, keeps bugs

happy, Forage digestion via fermentation

Basic Point Is:

Optimal function of horse’s digestive system is dependent on “proper site” digestion and absorption– starch and sugar: small intestine– fat: small intestine– protein: small intestine– fiber: large intestine

“Carb” Definition

Structural Carbs (Fiber)– cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin– found primarily in forages

Non-Structural Carbs (NSC)– sugars and starches– found primarily in grain products

and excessive levels of molasses

The Trouble With Too Much NSC

Produces lactic acid in hindgut– Lowers gut pH– Lower pH reduces fermentation = colic

Spikes metabolic hormone levels– Alters normal cartilage and bone

development– Interferes with mineral metabolism during

exercise– Increases sensitivity to insulin

Interferes with glucose metabolism during exercise

Metabolic Anomalies Related to High NSC Levels

PSSM (type 1 and 2)

RER – Tying up

EMS – Most common – Equine Metabolic Syndrome

Chronic Laminitis or chronic colic

Metabolic Anomalies Related to NSC Levels

PSSM (Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy)

– QH’s & QH type, Warmbloods and Morgans

– Increased insulin sensitivity

– Triggered by change in exercise regime

Metabolic Anomalies Related to NSC Levels

RER: (Recurrent Exertional Rhabdomyolysis)– Autosomal dominant trait– TB’s, SB’s, Arabians (esp. nervous 2yo

fillies)– Caused by abnormal intracellular calcium

concentrationsIndependent from dietary calcium intake

RER: (Recurrent Exertional Rhabdomyolysis)

Best managed by:Ensuring adequate protein, energy, mineral and vitamin intakeReducing NSC intake Increasing dietary fat intake for DESlow warm up, long cool down

Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS)

Insulin / Glycemic Response to NSC Levels

05

10152025

0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0

Hours post feeding

Lo NSC Hi NSC

–Same Caloric intake

Effect of High Fiber, High Fat, Low Starch

Moderates metabolic hormone secretion patterns, especially insulin– Promotes skeletal growth– Reduces DOD– Reduces EMS and related

disorders

Basic Point Is:

Optimal function of horse’s digestive system is dependent on “proper site” digestion and absorption– starch and sugar: small intestine– fat: small intestine– protein: small intestine– fiber: large intestine

How does Laminitis occur?

Sugar, starch (NSC) or fructans enter hindgut

Fermentation rapidly occurs

Lactic acid lowers pH (illustrated in next slide)

Destroys bacteria

Bacteria break apart - release toxins that are absorbed into the bloodstream

Toxins cause laminitis

NSC Content of Feeds

Nutrient guarantee for a low NSC product should have:– High fiber (> 10 – 12%)– Moderate to High Fat (> 6%)

Ingredient listing for a low NSC product should contain:– No Grain (Corn, Wheat,

Barley, Oats)– Ingredients with low NSC

values

NSC Content of Feed / Dietary Ingredients[low NSC (< 20)]

Ingredient NSC DE/lbVeg. Oil (Fat) 0.0 3900Soybean Hulls 7.2 1400Distiller’s Grains 10.7 1620Alfalfa Meal / Hay 11.4 1125Beet Pulp 12.2 1395Grass Hay 13.3 950Linseed Meal 15.0 1410Soybean Meal 16.3 1535

NSC Content of Feed Ingredients[medium NSC (20 - 45)]

[high NSC (> 45)]Ingredient NSC DE/lb

Wheat Bran 30.2 1245Wheat Midds 33.7 1425Oats 50.7 1375Molasses 58.4 1235Barley 63.1 1500Wheat 67.5 1570Corn 75.6 1575

NSC1 Content of Triple Crown FeedsIngredient NSC Kcal/lb

TC Lite (2#/day) 9.3 1150

TC 30% Supplement (1#/day) 9.8 1266

TC Safe Starch Forage (7#/day) 8.7 1100

TC Senior (5#/day) 11.7 1546

TC Low Starch (5#/day) 13.5 1428

TC Complete (5#/day) 20.6 1700

TC Growth (5#/day) 17.3 1620

<10=very low

<15=low 15-25=moderate

1Values determined by Equi-Analytical Laboratories.

Common Colic Causes (epidemiological studies)

Stall Confinement for more than 15 hours per dayFeeding Large Amounts of Grain– (> 12 lbs per day)

Participation in intensive exerciseFeeding grain before hay after a “fast”

Common Colic Causes (experience from a nutritionist)Dehydration – water– salt– minerals (especially electrolytes)

Inadequate Forage QualityInadequate Forage Quantity

Keeping the Bugs Happy

Match Feeding Program To Natural Function Of Horse’s GutUse Fermentation Aids for performance, breeding or problem horses:– high quality forage– yeast cultures– digestive enzymes– probiotic cultures– Toxin Binders

The Best Forage Source

Pasture Grass is very fermentableGrazing promotes moderate hormone secretion patterns

Insulin Secretion Pattern In Horses

0

5

10

15

20

25

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Grass Fed Grain Fed

Grass is Similar to Fat

WHAT?Fat provides for moderate insulin secretion pattern as does grass, butFat provides a whole lot more energy than grassSO ----- fat can be used to provide horses with more calories and stamina without making them hyper.

Yeast Cultures & Probiotics

Enhance health and activity of bacteria in horse’s large intestine– improves digestion of hay and pasture– reduces gas buildup– buffers pH (as illustrated in next slide)– reduces colic severity and occurrence– Guaranteed levels necessary and effective

Effect of grain overload on cecal pH horses

5.6

5.8

6

6.2

6.4

6.6

6.8

7

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

day

pH

Control Fermentation Aids

Study- use of Live Yeast, pre & pro-biotics, dig enz high Levels necessary to assist (2,500 mil cfu/day)

Effect of Digestive Aids on Bone Growth in Horses

90

100

110

120

130

1 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56

Days of Age

Heig

ht a

t with

ers

(cm Control

Digestive Aids

Digestion aids

Now we know how great they are –

• What are they?

• Are they guaranteed at effective levels?

Digestive Aids

Live YeastDigestive Bacteria (Probiotics)Digestive EnzymesAppetite stimulatorsToxin binders

LIVE YEAST CULTURES

Live strains of yeast, in equine specific cultures are shown to be beneficial to fiber digestion -2,500 million CFU’s /day Increases protein utilizationStabilizes cecal and colon pHImprove efficiency of mare diets, better conversion from feed to foal tissues

Probiotic Cultures

Introduce highly beneficial bacteria to small intestine and fermentation vat (hind gut)* improves ecology of fermentation process* increases overall digestibility* reduces susceptibility to pathogenic bacteria* Less chance of colic* Without 2,000 – 3,000 million CFU/day – little

to no benefit (guaranteed on tag??)

Enzymes and lecithin

Objective of adding enzymes is to increase the percentage of starch and protein that is absorbed from the small intestine. Reducing the starch and protein load on the large intestine improves fermentationLess starch entering the hindgut decreases chance for colic and laminitis

Lecithin aids in digestion and absorption of fats from small intestine (emulsifier)

Appetite Stimulators

horses under stress often have inconsistent appetites– this reduces fermentation efficiency – this reduces stamina and performance

appetite stimulators help to “level off” appetite– improves feed utilization and performanceAnise and Fenugreek Seed

MOS

Mannanoligosaccharides - bind certain pathogenic bacteria such as E. Coli and Salmonella thereby preventing them from infecting intestineIncreases immune functionUsed to:– successfully prevent or reduce foal scours!– help re-establish appetite in stressed horses

Mycotoxin Binders

Aids in eliminating unseen variations in feed from toxinsMycotoxins are found in 80% of hays as well as grain and can trigger colic or lack of condition and performanceLow level mycotoxins reduce growth and increase chances of horse becoming sickCheap insurance

When should Fermentation Aids be used?

Broodmares and Growing Horses* improved Ca and P availability for bones

Under-Conditioned HorsesPerformance HorsesSenior Horses with special needsHorses with sensitive stomachs that tend to colic often or tend toward laminitis

Growth & DevelopmentThe same principle (feeding low NSC diet with added fat) can be used to improve growth in young horses– Reduces DOD – Increases skeletal growth– Reduces problems with obesity

What About Minerals and Metabolism?

Organic Minerals Improve:

Skin, Hair and Hoof qualityBone Growth* reduce the incidence

and/or severity of DODStress ResistanceReproduction

How Do Organic Minerals Work?Body tissues that have a high requirement for both minerals and amino acids tend to take up more organic minerals* skin, hair, hoof, ovaries, uterus, bone

As a result these tissues are better nourished and therefore healthier!30% minimum required to have much benefit – TC uses 40% Organic, highest in the industry that we are aware of

Pasture minerals are not always what they should be

Calcium & Phosphorus are often inadequateTrace minerals are often low and/or erraticMagnesium is commonly deficientSodium is usually very low

These things can create behavior, bone and production problems

TC Lite or TC 30%

Selenium

Organic form of selenium yeast that enhances tissue retention for dramatically improved immune responseBetter uterine health, breed backA significant reduction in placenta retention time, 50% in problem maresLevels not documented to be toxic

Kelp Meal

Kelp Meal - Ground, dried seaweed– Natural source of micro-organic minerals

such as boron, chromium, vandium– Helps improve structural soundness, and

protein and energy utilization– Helps increase immune system activity

Benefits of New Technology

Horse performance is hard to measure, but longevity is not. Horses are living longer more useful lives.Insurance policy for unprepared or unmanageable conditions – stress, weather, etc.

How Does This Relate To Triple Crown?

Triple Crown contains the following digestive and fermentation aids (EquiMix)– 6 Organic Minerals – 40%– Live Yeast Cultures - guaranteed– Probiotics (Digestive Bacteria)

guaranteed– Digestive Enzymes guaranteed– Kelp Meal– Mos– Yeast based Toxin binder– 100% Organic Selenium

Basic Point

Do not overfeed sugar or starchOverweight issues can cause or exacerbate EMS and related disordersExercise your horseUse Digestive aids if needed (high levels for chronic sufferers) Lengthen warm up/cool down for chronic sufferers

Thank You!

Shannon Keller 406.925.1619 skeller@triplecrownfeed.com

TRIPLE CROWN FEEDSbeet pulp based feeds

Low carbohydrate, high fiber, high fat diets– fat is from Flax (omega 3), soy bean oil & flax (omega 3

& 6), better immune function, better hair coat, energy without hyperactivity

– Contains Equimix TechnologyTriple Crown Complete 12% Protein, 12% Fat, 15% Fiber -Excellent for mature horses in work

Triple Crown Growth 14% Protein, 10% Fat,17% Fiber -Ideal for weanlings, yearlings and broodmares

Triple Crown Senior 14% Protein, 10% Fat, 17% Fiber. Ideal for the older horse, soft to make it easy to chew and digest

TRIPLE CROWN FEEDSTriple Crown Lite (pelleted feed)– 12% Protein, 3% Fat, 20% Fiber– Low carbohydrate, low calorie diet - Excellent for

overweight horses, ponies and miniature horses– Low Feeding rate – 2# per 1,000 lbsTriple Crown Low Starch (pelleted feed)- 13% Protein, 6% Fat, 18% Fiber- Guaranteed low carbohydrate diet for insulin

resistant horses, cushings (thin horses) HYPP, tying up, chronic founder or colic issues.

- 5# per day, 1,000 lbs to meet vit/min

TRIPLE CROWN SUPPLEMENTS

Triple Crown 30% Supplement– Designed to balance grains or pasture– Higher vitamin and mineral fortification– Contains Equimix Technology– Can improve quality of economical feeds– Triple Crown 30% is designed for easy keepers:

primarily broodmares in their last trimester and during lactation, foals, yearlings (stocky breeds)

– Voted BEST VALUE SUPPLEMENT IN AMERICA BY Horse Journal

TRIPLE CROWN SUPPLEMENTS

Triple Crown Fish Oil Powder ( Fat Supplement, high in Omega 3 fatty acids, DHA & EPA)– 13% Protein, 30% Fat– Better coat, skin, immune response and fertility – Fat supplement for added calories, weight gain, and coat

condition with out hyperactivity– Anti-inflammatory response, Increased Circulation=

All Tissue’s repair faster! (hoof quality improvement) Triple Crown Omega Max-Human Grade – GMO Free – 2 year shelf life-100% Flax Seed (Sliced)-Top dress on any feed- 17% Protein; 32% Fat; 12% Fiber

Summary

Use Organic Minerals For Special Applications* improve bone growth and reduce DOD* improve reproduction in problem mares* improve stress resistance in all performance

horses* improve skin, hair and hoof condition

Summary

Higher soluble fiberLower NSC level if neededHigher fat for consistent energy and performance without hyperactivityUse Digestive Aids– Less Colic/Laminitis – Less RER issues– Better health and performance

The End